Device for kindling fires



March 5, 1940.

A. J. JOHNSON DEVICE FOR KINDLING FIRES Filed Aug. 13, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A 4 L E/V Jddews M,

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March 5, 1940- A. J. JOHNSON 2,192,732

DEVICE FOR KIND-LING FIRES I'ilQd Aug. 13, 1.938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z6 f p2 25 f 2 FT""*" f HTHTH HI 1 U1 mm 4.1:

VENTOR 24 [NJ a/nvs O/V,

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFlCE Application August 13,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to heating apparatus and more particularly to a device for kindling a fire in a body of solid fuel.

Some of the objects of the present invention {5 are to provide a device for igniting a solid body of fuel without using paper, shavings, pieces of wood or other readily combustible material; to provide an igniter or kindler for solid fuel whereby the time required to start combustion is re- 10 dured to a minimum; to provide an igniting device for fuel wherein provision is made for producing a forced draft; to provide an igniting device for fuel which is operable under some conditions of natural draft; to provide a novel port- 15 able apparatus for kindling a fire in a body of solid fuel; to provide a new method of starting a fire in a body of solid fuel; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 reprem sents a sectional elevation of a solid fuel igniter embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a section of a solid fuel heater showing the igniter of the invention in operative 35 position; Fig. 4 represents a plan of the igniter; Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of a modified form of the invention; and Fig. 6 represents another form of the invention using a different heating element.

80 Referring to the drawings one form of the present invention consists of an electric heater coil l0, such for example as a Calrod unit, of generally elongated shape to provide a relatively long zone of heat. This coil IQ is arranged to be 35 energized by an electric current supplied by conductors II and I2 from the line wires !3 and i4 leading from a source of electricity. As here shown the coil ID is enclosedby a tubular sheath l5, preferably of heat resisting steel, which is 40 provided with a plurality of apertures l6 throughout the area bounding the coil l9 and terminates in a conoidal nose I! at its outer end while its opposite end is flanged for attachment by bolts Hi to the outlet 20 of a blower housing 2 I.

45 In order to create a forced draft in the area surrounding the sheath I5, a turbine type blower 22, or other suitable fan unit is direct connected to the shaft 23 of an electric motor 2:1 which is suitably journalled in the housing 2 i, the blower 50 22 being operatively located with respect to the outlet 20. Conductors 25 and 26 supply current to the motor 24 from the line wires l3 and I4.

Preferably a double throw, single pole switch H is arranged in a convenient place on the housing II 2! with the line wires l3 and I4 leading thereto.

1938, Serial No. 224,675

The conductors II and H are connected to one side ofthe switch 2'! and the conductors 25 and 26 are connected to the other side of the switch 21. Hence by throwing the switch 21 to one position current will be supplied to the coil l and the motor will be cut off from the line wires, while throwing the switch to its other position will connect the motor to the line wires and cut off current to the coil 10.

In Fig. 3 the igniter is shown passed through 10 the fuel door opening 28, of a solid fuel heater 30, with the sheath inserted well within the body of solid fuel 3! upon the grate 32. When thus correctly located the switch 21 is thrown to the position to energize the coil I0 so that in a rela- 15 tively short time interval the fuel in contact with the sheath I5, and located thereabout in the heat zone, becomes heated to a temperature approaching incandescence. The heated fuel will give visual indication when this temperature is reached and then the switch 21 is reversed in position to cut off current from the coil I0 and supply current to the motor 24. This starts the blower 22 to supply the necessary draft to the fuel through the apertures E5 in the sheath I5. 25 With combustion fully under way the igniter is removed from the heater and the natural draft of the heater maintains the fire.

In Fig. 5 a modified form of the invention is shown wherein the heater coil I0 is arranged for direct contact with the fuel, and the sheath l5, shown in the preceding figures is dispensed with. Under some fuel conditions this has been found to give satisfactory results.

In Fig. 6 another form of heating element is shown consisting of a mandrel 33 of refractory material about which is wound a metal resistance tape 34. When supplied with current from the source line the unit serves as an effective heating means for igniting solid fuel as heretofore eX- plained.

While the forms of the invention are here shown coupled with a blower for producing forced draft the invention is not limited to such specific combination because where there is a strong natural draft or an extraneous source of forced draft the blower, here shown, may be unnecessary. In other words the present invention contemplates the use of a heater coil alone as a means to ignite a solid body of fuel, and the device as marketed may be a coil alone equipped with a handle or a coil plus a forced draft unit.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for kindling fires consisting of an electrical heating unit of elongated configuration, a perforated tubular sheathing enclosing said unit, a blower arranged to deliver air into said sheathing, a source of current, conductors for supplying current to said unit, an electrically driven motor for actuating said blower, and means for alternately connecting said unit and motor to said source of current while said sheathing is covered with solid fuel.

2. A portable device for kindling fires consisting of an elongated electrical heating unit, a perforated tubular sheathing enclosing said unit, and arranged to be inserted and embedded in a body of coal to be ignited by direct radiation therefrom, a casing attached to and communicating with said sheathing, a blower in said casing to deliver air into said sheathing, an electrically driven motor for actuating said blower, an electric circuit including said unit, an electric circuit including said motor, and a switch arranged to selectively control said circuits.

3. A portable device for kindling fires consisting of an elongated electrical heating unit adapted to be inserted in a body of fuel for substantially the entire length of the unit, a casing at one end of said unit, an electrically operated blower in said casing adapted to deliver air lengthwise of the unit, an electric circuit including said unit and blower, and a selective switch therein operable to first energize the heating unit and then de-energize the same and operate the blower whereby an appreciable portion of the fuel in contact with the heating unit is first heated to a combustible point and then a forced draft maintained until the natural draft supports combustion for the ignited fuel.

ALLEN J. JOHNSON. 

